Can I just buy a few Europe adaptors - and not have to buy the set which includes countries we don't need right now?

Yes.

You might try a place like Target or Walmart in the luggage/travel section.

Try a local luggage store.

Or look online. www.magellans.com has them I think.

Most individual adaptors cost about $5-7 USD so if you think that you are going to keep traveling then invest in the $18.99 set at Walmart. Here in the Chicago area, the luggage store Kaehler carries the individual ones.

I bought a single one for Europe at Target and a multi-country one at the AAA office.

Yes, just order what you need from this website. Now these are plug adapters, nor converters. You can also get converters on this site.

http://www.voltageconverters.com/plug_adapters.html

Target and Radio Shack; you can get them cheaper on-line at this place http://www.voltage-converter-transfo...-adapter4.html
than you'll probably pay at Magellans or Travelsmith

Individual plug adapters are certainly available, although I suspect most travel shops would rather sell you the more expensive set. With a few exceptions, you really only need a round-pin adapter for most European countries, and a three-pin adapter for the British Isles. Check out http://kropla.com/ for individual country requirements.

Thank you all. My Target and WalMart does not have them individually. I will try Magellans, Travelsmith, Radioshack, etc.

dutyfree: Thanks, but I really don't need any other countries - I have at least four sets hanging around the house missing the Europe one. Unfortunately, I have a tendency to leave them in hotels....

Budman and Dukey: Thanks also, but we really only need the plug adaptors. At least I have THAT part figured out!

I order all my individual plug adaptors at radioshack.com . They dont carry them in the stores. For europe it costs $2.99 and is Catalog #: 273-1447.

tumi makes a unit that works everywhere. www.tumi.com

I gather that all you need is what is called a Europlug, one that fits in receptacles all over continental Europe.

The one on the RadioShack website, for $2.99 is undoubtedly your best deal if you can find it in the store for that price, but not if you have to pay shipping. REI sells the same thing for $3, if you have a store nearby.

I have found international plug adapters at ACE Hardware for under $5. I compared them to my own Europlug, and the one for So. Europe seems to be the closest match. The No. Europe adapter will work in Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Germany (probably Austria,too), but I think the pins are too big for Switzerland and Italy).

Hint: The receptacles in Europe grip the round pins very tightly, so there is a tendency for the U.S. plug to come out of the adapater and leave it in the wall (but, of course, you knew that). If you only have one device to plug in, tape the adapter to it. If you have several devices, get one of those U.S. multi plug adapters (the ones we use over here to plug several devices into one receptacle) and tape it to the adapter. That is what I do; it allows me to charge my camera while I use my computer.

Also note that these two pin plugs are not grounded or polarized. In the EU they are only rated for 2-1/2 amps (about 600 watts). Technically you should not use them with a hair dryer or other heating appliance.

Canterbury: the site I referred you to DOES sell individual adaptors.

I bought mine at the airport.

Thanks, larry. The adaptors are needed for a computer, iPod, cell phone, and camera. They should be okay, right? Because, obviously we don't want to ruin these things, as they are kind of costly.

I thought you had done this before and already knew.

Look at each power supply. If it says 100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, it is a dual voltage supply and will be alright. If it say 120 VAC (or something similar) don't take it. I believe that all dual voltage power supplies are self-switching, but make sure there is not a slide switch somewhere to change the input voltage.

Canterbury, if they are 120V only you can still bring them, but in addition to adapter plugs you will need a voltage transformer. Be very careful about this, though, and don't operate them with a voltage converter meant only for heating devices such as irons, curling tongs, etc. Anything with electronics, such as the devices you listed should be used with a transformer. Travel transformers are usually rated for devices up to about 50-80 watts only.

Any device that says 100-240V 50-60Hz can, and should be, plugged directly into the wall socket with an adapter plug.

Larry and Heim -

I guess I wanted reassurance that the things she is plugging in will not be ruined. I've never taken a computer to Europe so I was mostly concerned about that. Her computer is dual voltage.

I've used an iPod and cell phone and was okay, but never on a long term basis. My niece (I'm asking on her behalf) will be living in the Netherlands for five months. She will be buying hair dryer, flat iron, tea kettle locally to avoid problems with those items.

Sorry to pull up an old thread. But I ran across this in the course of doing a search on adaptors and I'd like to clarify a couple of things.

Using the link that Heimdall provided, I'm assuming that we need the same adaptors for Ireland and the UK but different ones for Spain. Is this correct?

One thing that has me a bit confused is that some of these posts seem to assume the same adaptor will work throughout continental Europe but that website lists different adaptors for different European countries.

I've got an adaptor or two around here from trips to Ireland. So am not concerned about it and the UK. But we'll also be staying in Barcelona and want to be sure we have the right adaptors for charging our phones, etc., there.

Thanks!

UK sockets are 3 pin square, this website should answer your questions:

http://kropla.com/electric.htm

Radio Shack has all that stuff. Wal-Mart has some of it, cheaper, but you have to know exactly what you need.